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Customers filed past me in clusters as that week’s sale threatened to surpass the previous month’s big spring-cleaning sale. Those always do well at Big Joe’s Liquidation Depot, but I was surprised to see so many people here for what seemed like a ridiculous idea for a promotion when management first announced it.

The April Fool’s Day sale.

I thought most customers would have assumed they were going to be tricked in some way so they wouldn’t come out for the sale. Obviously, the giant crowds every day that week showed I was wrong.

Predicting a single person’s behavior is easy. Predicting a group of people’s is far more challenging.

I hated being around this many people at once. They’re loud, rude, and far too many of them needed to be reminded of the virtue of a shower once in a while. If I didn’t have a good reason to stay at that job, I would have left a week after I started.

And no, it wasn’t the pay, which was far less than I should be making. I didn’t still live with my mother because I liked it there.

No, my reason for staying here was named Tess. Tess Banks. Petite, blond, and as sweet as they come, she was perfect. I knew from the moment I met her that first day I started working at Big Joe’s that she would be my next kill.

For two months, I watched her. At the beginning of February, I had to leave my last job cleaning office buildings when the company went bankrupt, so I ended up at Big Joe’s stocking shelves for just above minimum wage and assumed I’d leave as soon as I could find a better job.

And then I met Tess in the breakroom, and I knew I couldn’t quit. Not until I killed her.

For Valentine’s Day, she brought everyone a little box of homemade candy hearts with cute sayings like “Text me” and “You’re mine.” Even me. When she handed me my pink box, she smiled and said, “Adam, I know we don’t really know each other, so don’t think I’m a weirdo or stalker or anything like that. I just didn’t want to forget you since I have a Valentine’s gift for everyone else.”

I knew she wasn’t stalking me. I’d know since I’m a stalker. No, she was being nice, and if I hadn’t decided to make her my next victim before then, that moment would have been when I knew.

Tess Banks had to die.

But I’d been planning that eventuality since the day I met her, and that time came a week after the big April Fool’s sale. I’ll never forget how hot it was that day. Technically, it was spring, but the thermometer got to the high eighties by mid-afternoon, and I didn’t know if I’d be able to convince her to take a ride home from me since my car’s air conditioning didn’t work. The last thing anyone wants to do is sit in a steaming hot car after it’s been sitting in the scorching sun for nearly ten hours.

Still, I had to try. I needed to get her into my car. So right before the end of our shift, I found her in the housewares section she managed and positioned myself at the end of the towel aisle. When she came around the corner, she nearly ran into me and apologized, like all nice people do.

Closing my eyes, I let myself drift back to that day.

“I’m so sorry, Adam. I nearly crashed right into you,” she says, her big blue eyes open wide in fear that she’s offended someone.

I smile and shake my head. “It’s okay. I guess if I have to be crashed into, there’s no better place than the towel aisle. They would have broken my fall.”

Tess giggles as she nods. “Maybe the pillow aisle. I guess it’s lucky I ran into you here—well, almost ran into you. I was wondering if I could ask you a big favor.”

I’ve been as friendly as I possibly can be for weeks, far more than I even thought I was capable of being before this. She actually is a very sweet person, so it hasn’t been a complete chore being kind to her. My goal was to make her feel comfortable enough with me that when I began offering her rides home, she wouldn’t balk and think I’m some creep who just wants to take her to some deserted place and force myself on her.

That’s not it at all. Well, not the forcing myself on her.

So every chance I’ve gotten, I show her I’m someone she can trust and consider a friend, and my plan has worked far better than I could have ever dreamed. Last week, she began to bring me these little presents every day for my lunch. Nothing big. A miniature bag of Fritos one day. A handful of Hershey’s Kisses the next. One day she brought me one of the chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing she made the night before with a few of her friends at some baking party.

Now she wants to ask me a big favor, and of course, I’ll say yes. Anything to make sure I have her complete trust.

I glance down her body, hating the red and black vests we all have to wear as employees of Big Joe’s, and my gaze lingers on her nametag where she attached a smiley face next to her name written in pink marker. “What’s the big favor?”

Tess looks down toward her feet for a few moments before tilting her head back to look up at me. She’s much shorter than I am—maybe five two, at most—and compared to my six-foot height, she’s tiny.

“My car’s in the shop. I had to get a ride from my friend this morning, but she called me at lunch and told me she got called in for an extra shift. I can’t be mad at her since it’s double time and I know she needs the money. So I’m stranded, and I was hoping you wouldn’t mind giving a girl a lift.”

I fight to keep the grin off my face at how fortuitous her problem is to my plans. It’s like the universe is working hand in hand with me to give me what I want today. I figured killing her would be easy, but I never dreamed this kind of help would drop into my lap.

“So you need a ride home?” I ask, practically stunned at my good fortune.

A sheepish look settles into her expression as she nods. “I don’t mean to overstep the boundaries of our friendship. I know we don’t really know one another very well since you’ve only been working here for two months. I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t really stuck, Adam.”

Her blue eyes fill with hope as she stares up at me, so I quickly answer, “It’s okay. I’m happy to do it. I have to ask you, though. You said you and your friends were at a baking party the other day. I told my mother about it, and she wanted me to ask you where you did that. What it at one of your friend’s houses or somewhere else?”

Relief washes over her as I tell her what she wanted to hear. “Oh, yeah, the cupcakes. We did it at this place over on Chestnut Street. You know how there are places where you and some friends go and paint a picture? You probably don’t since you’re a guy, but women do that kind of thing and it’s fun. Well, I guess somebody figured out that art isn’t the only thing that works for, so the Bubbly Bakery Shop started doing what they call Baking Nights.”

She stops herself and then adds, “That’s probably more information than you or your mother wanted to know. I always do that. I can’t help it when I’m really enthusiastic about something.”

“It’s okay. I’ll make sure to tell her everything you said. Bubbly Bakery Shop on Chestnut Street. Do they do them only particular nights or every night?”

“Oh, they do them by reservation only. I think they do it any night Monday through Friday, though. Just tell your Mom to call the bakery. They’ll have all the details.”

“Okay. Thanks! She’ll be thrilled when I tell her what you said. I bet she thought I’d forget to ask you. What time do you get off tonight? I’m here until five.”

Tess smiles as she grabs my hand to give it an excited squeeze. “Perfect! I’m scheduled until five too, so I won’t be putting you out at all. Thank you so much, Adam. You’re a lifesaver! I better get over to the sheet display. Somebody dug through every single package this afternoon, and it’s going to take me the rest of my shift to get it straightened up. I’ll see you out back in the parking lot at five, okay?”

“Sounds great!”

I watch as she hurries off to clean up the mess in the sheets area of her section. She said I was a lifesaver. She has no idea how ironic that is.

Tess slams the passenger side car door and turns in her seat to face me. “Thanks so much, Adam! This is so nice of you.”

As I turn the engine over, I glance over at her and force a smile. “Happy to help. Just tell me your address.”

She rattles it off, and I instantly know where that part of town is and that there’s a wooded area nearby. Everything is working out perfectly.

While I drive, she chatters on about work and how our store supervisor gave her a hard time today because of that mess in the bedding area. I nod my agreement when she says he’s an ass and she wishes he’d go on a permanent vacation. Of course, she immediately says she isn’t wanting him dead, if that’s what I’m thinking. Personally, I wouldn’t give a damn if Chet Sanders disappeared forever. I might even make it happen myself if I had the chance.

I listen to all her talk, nodding and chuckling when it seems appropriate as I get more and more excited for what’s about to happen. The woods near where Tess lives will be the perfect spot, assuming there aren’t any kids partying there tonight. I just have to find a way to get her there.

Maybe she wants to get high. I have some weed. I could suggest that.

Then again, if she doesn’t smoke, that might cause me trouble at work, and as much as I hate that job, I need the money. I’ll save it for after I finish.

When we turn onto her street, I see it’s a dead end. It’s like the universe is on my side with this. Now if I can just figure out how to get her into the woods.

“That’s my house. The one at the end of the street.”

Jesus, this is like a gift from God.

The streetlight in front of where she lives flickers like a sign to me that it’s almost time. I grip the steering wheel tightly until my knuckles are white. I can’t lose my chance tonight.

“Your road reminds me of mine. There are woods right near my house too.”

“Oh yeah? Did you spend every day in the summer playing in them when you were little too?” Tess asks with a giggle.

Nodding, I stop right underneath that streetlight and put the car into park. “Yeah. It was like living in a dream world. No cars. Nothing but nature and good times.”

“I wish it wasn’t dark out. I’d show you my favorite spot.”

The disappointment in her voice comes through loud and clear, so I quickly say, “I think I’m going to take a walk in there anyway. I’m not afraid, and after the day we had, I could use some nature to get my head together. Maybe I’ll smoke some too.”

After I say that, I turn to her and add, “Don’t tell anyone if you don’t, okay? I need that job, Tess.”

The light from outside shows her wide eyes as she grabs onto my forearm. “I wouldn’t do that, Adam. You’ve always been so nice to me. The thing is, though, that I do smoke, so maybe you’d like some company on your walk?”

Bingo.

Every cell in my body feels like it’s more alive than ever before, but I need to temper my excitement. I don’t want to scare her off now that I’m so close to my goal. I can practically feel her tiny neck beneath my hands.

The soft skin giving way as I slowly squeeze the life out of her.

The sound of her breathing slowly ebbing away as her last gasp of air leaves her body.

I squeeze my legs together, wishing I wasn’t hard right now. I’ve never gotten excited like this before I kill someone. Maybe I do like Tess more than as just my next victim.

No matter. Sexual need is nothing compared to the kind of need I feel to kill again. I can satisfy myself later in bed, but to satiate the desire that rules my every thought can only be done one way.

“Okay,” I say as casually as humanly possible. Christ, I feel like I’m trying to hold back wild horses. “Does anyone usually hang out in the woods, or will we be alone? We don’t want any narcs ruining our time.”

Tess shakes her head as she reaches to open the door. “Not a soul lately. I think the cops broke up a big party last month around St. Patrick’s day, so since then, I haven’t seen anyone walk in there after dark.”

Perfect.

As I turn to get out of the car, I smile at her. “Good.”

She waits for me at near the trunk and takes my hand in hers, surprising me. “I sometimes get a little freaked out walking into those dark woods alone. You don’t mind me holding your hand, do you?”

I shake my head as a single thought runs through my brain. Tess’s hands are so small. I don’t know why I never noticed that before this moment. I’ve studied every square inch of her body, or at least I thought I had, but somehow I didn’t pay any attention to her hands. Odd considering I’ve seen them every day while we’ve worked together stacking sheets or picking up towels thoughtless customers left on the floor.

Her skin is soft against mine, and before I know it, I’m so fucking hard my dick practically aches as it presses against the front of my black work pants. I don’t listen as she tells me some story about a girl she used to know who would always hang out with her in the woods when they were young.

With each step we take, the moment I’ve waited for grows closer. My mind falls still as it always does right before it happens. I can be thinking a million thoughts right before, but as soon as I know it’s truly going to happen, everything falls away.

All thoughts. All feelings. Everything. Until I’m a void, except for that one singular thought that controls everything.

It’s time for her to die.

Tess gives my hand a playful squeeze as we walk into the woods, and in the dim light of the moon, I see something flirtatious in her eyes. She thinks this is my way of getting her alone so we can kiss or have sex, and she likes that idea.

No, that’s not what this is, although I can see why men would want you. You probably shouldn’t be so willing, though, sweet Tess. That’s going to get you killed.

“Is everything okay, Adam? You seem really quiet all of a sudden,” she says, inching closer to me as we continue to walk deeper into the trees.

I nod and smile, knowing that will be enough to calm her fears. She thinks I’m having second thoughts about us being together. That’s expected since I’m not saying anything.

But there are no words in my head right now. Just emptiness surrounding the only thought I have when it’s time to kill someone.

We stop next to a big rock, and for the first time, I smell the leaves sitting on the ground beneath our feet. After a long winter’s rest, they’re now giving off that scent of decay that had been hidden by the cold temperatures. The recent heat wave hasn’t brought them back to life but instead made every part of their continuing march toward nothingness more potent.

“My friends and I used to hang out on this very rock when we were kids,” Tess says, leaning against it and looking up at me.

The moonlight makes the entire area look like something magical. I imagine in her mind what’s about to happen is going to be that too. Magical. Enchanting, like the forest around us.

“They’re all gone off to college now. There’s only me left here since I didn’t get into any of the schools they did,” she says sadly.

“College is overrated,” I say in a rare attempt at making someone feel better.

It’s ridiculous I should even bother, really. In a few seconds, I’m going to wrap my hands around that pretty neck of hers and strangle the life out of her. Why I’m bothering to try to make her feel better about her not getting to go to college makes no sense.

But it works, and her smile returns.

“You’re right. I shouldn’t feel bad. I mean, my job isn’t great or anything, but it’s not forever, right? I’ve got the rest of my life to figure out what I want to do, and in the meantime, I’ll make some money from Big Joe.”

She sounds so happy right now. I’m glad I could give her that before I get what’s going to make me happy.

“I didn’t realize how much I needed this after today,” she says sweetly as I reach into my coat pocket.

A second later, I move quicker than lightning and grab her around the neck. She’s unsure what’s happening at first, but it doesn’t take her long to realize she only has moments left to live.

Tess struggles harder than I expected, pushing me back so I fall back onto the ground with a thud. She’s off like a shot before I know it, but I’m bigger and faster. I just need to get her before she leaves the woods and reaches her neighborhood.

She screams at the top of her lungs, adding another layer of discomfort to what’s supposed to be a perfect time for me. Rage courses through my veins, and I run faster to catch up to her so I can stop that fucking yelling.

“Help! Help! Someone call the police! He’s trying to kill me!” she screeches just before I reach her.

I stretch my hand out and close my fingers around her hair before I yank her back against me hard, slamming her tiny body into mine. I’ve never been this angry before killing someone. I’m usually so calm and peaceful.

Tess fights against my hold, flailing her arms and twisting like a wild woman, but it’s no use. This was always going to end the way I want it to. Her giving me a hard time isn’t going to change that.

I clamp my hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming, but she continues, yelling against my fingers. “Stop! Get off me! Help!”

For a moment, I look around to see if anyone’s heard her, but we’re still alone. I need to get this done quickly, though. No enjoying my time tonight.

Furious she’s ruined this for me, I throw her down to the ground and immediately jump on top of her. Her fingernails claw at my face and neck, and she screams like a madwoman. It won’t matter in a few seconds, though.

Wrapping my hands around her throat, I squeeze hard, needing to shut her up before someone hears her pleas for help. She continues to thrash like a wild animal, her hands pummeling my face and ears, so I squeeze even harder.

Now I just want this fucking thing over. She’s spoiled this, so now she needs to pay. Bitch.

My thumbs press into her flesh just above her collarbone. I feel her heart beating wildly against my fingertips. That will end soon. Everything will for Tess.

I watch in the moonlight as the life begins to fade from her wide eyes. Fear is replaced with the knowledge that it’s almost time. No more worries about work or wishing she could have gone to college. No more anything. Just peace.

Her arms rest against my chest and then slide down to her sides as her last breaths leave her body. Tess falls still beneath me, her eyes staring up blankly into mine right before she dies.

And then it’s over.

I release her neck and sit back on the damp ground covered with decaying leaves. I want to be able to sit here and enjoy myself like I did with Amanda, but I worry someone heard Tess screaming.

So instead, I stand up to leave, eager to get the hell away from here, but the tang of blood hits my tongue when I lick my lips. Wiping under my nose, I see blood. She caught my skin when she was fighting me.

Bitch.

I can’t just leave her here. Someone will find her too soon. We may have been seen walking into the woods together. It won’t take a genius to finger me as the one who did this to her.

No, I need to hide her somehow.

Frantically, I look around for a place to put her, but there’s nothing around. I pace back and forth past her body as my mind races about what to do. There has to be some way to hide her.

Then I spy a piece of fallen tree. It’s not big enough to stuff her inside, but it may be enough to dig a hole. Jumping over her, I lift it off the ground and feel it’s hard.

I use it as a shovel to carve out a shallow grave for her beneath the layer of rotting leaves, and when it’s deep enough, I push her in with my foot. She rolls into the hole like she’s turning over in bed and lands face down.

For a second or two, I stare down at her and imagine that beautiful face mushed into the dirt. If only she hadn’t screamed I wouldn’t have had to do this to her. She could have been found looking as beautiful as she always was, like Amanda was when they found her.

I hurry to cover her with the mixture of earth and dying leaves, and the scent of the mixture fills my nose until I don’t think I can stand it for a moment longer. Stepping back, I study my work, but I’m not happy. Anyone walking through here in broad daylight is going to notice this ground’s been disturbed.

What I need are more of those leaves. I push them around with my foot until the area is covered as well as it’s going to be. Unless someone is looking for a freshly dug grave, I doubt anyone will notice this for a long time.

And with that, I rub my hands together to get rid of the dirt on them and turn on my heel to leave. It wasn’t how I imagined it would be, but I’ll change that when I think about it later in bed tonight.

Then she’ll be soft and willing. She’ll be beautiful staring up at me as the last bit of life drains from her face.

She’ll be just like Amanda was when I killed her.